• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.4313-4319
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• 2013

The purpose of our study is to shorten the scanning time and minimize the inconveniences of the patients in acquisition of the black blood images using the signal void effect in the fast spin echo technique while keeping the diagnostic value of the test. Thirty-two consecutive patients who underwent black blood MR imaging were examed with additional double inversion recovery (DIR) sequence and the conventional fast spin echo (FSE) sequence. Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) and Contrast to Noise Ratio (CNR) of the internal carotid arteries' lumen were compared in T1 and T2 weighted images to determine whether there are differences between the two techniques for depiction of the signal void effect inside the vessel wall. The FSE images showed lower SNR values than the DIR images in both of the T1 and T2 weighted images (11.49% and 13.66% respectively). While the CNR values were higher in the FSE images than in the DIR images in both of the T1 and T2 weighted images (8.69% and 7.55% respectively).There was no significant difference between the two techniques for either of the SNR or CNR (p>0.05, p>0.05 respectively). The DIR and the FSE images demonstrated almost identical imaging patterns. Therefore, it is anticipated that the use of FSE technique in acquisition of the black blood imaging could reduce the inconveniences of the patients during the scanning and minimize exam time while keeping the diagnostic value of the test.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.46-52
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• 2016

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a highly prevalent disorder that affects millions of men and considered to be an early symptom of atherosclerosis and a precursor of various systemic vascular disorders. The aim of the present study was to prepare ginsenoside Re enriched fraction (GS-F3K1, ginsenoside Re 10%, w/w) from ginseng berries flesh and to investigate the enhanced activities of GS-F3K1 on alcohol-induced ED. GS-F3K1 was prepared by the continuous liquid and solid separating centrifugation and circulatory ultrafiltration from ginseng berries flesh. GS-F3K1 was administered for 5 weeks in ethanol-induced ED rat by oral administration of 20% ethanol. To investigate the effects of GS-F3K1 on ED model, the levels of nitrite expression, cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) and erectile response of the penile corpus cavernosum of rat were measured. The erectile response of the corpus cavernosum was restored after GS-F3K1 administration, to a level similar to the normal group. The level of nitrite and cGMP expression in the corpus cavernosum of GS-F3K1-administered male rats was increased significantly compared to positive control group. GS-F3K1 from ginseng berries should effectively restore ethanol-induced ED in male rats and could be developed as a new functional food for the elderly men.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.481-487
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• 1998

The surgical management of acute type B dissection is controversial. The complexity of the repair usually requires a period of aortic cross-clamping exceeding 30 minutes, which can cause ischemic injury of the spinal cord. Several forms of distal perfusion have been considered for use to prevent this injury. To determine the safety and efficacy of a graft replacement with cardiopulmonary bypass in reparing acute dissection of descending thoracic aorta, we retrospectively reviewed our surgical experience treating 8 patients who had aortic dissection secondary to atherosclerosis, trauma, and carcinoma invasion. Cardiopulmonary bypass was performed with two aortic cannulas for simultaneous perfusion of the upper and lower body and one venous cannula for draining venous blood from the right atrium or inferior vena cava. Although aortic cross-clamp time was relatively long (average, 117.8 minutes; range, 47 to 180 minutes) in all cases, there was no neurologic deficit immediately after graft replacement for the aortic lesion. Two patients(25%) of relatively old age died on the postoperative 31st and 41st days, respectively, because of delayed postoperative complications, such as pulmonary abscess and adult respiratory distress syndrome. Although any of several maneuvers may be appropriate in managing dissection of the descending aorta, graft replacement with cardiopulmonary bypass during aortic cross-clamping may be a safe and effective method for the treatment of acute dissection of the descending thoracic aorta.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.174-180
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• 2006

We examine the effect of Geiji-Bokryung-Hwan(GBH) on erectile function in a rat model of hypercholesterolemic erectile dysfunction. GBH, a drug preparation consisting of five herbs of Cinnamomi Ramulus (Geiji), Poria Cocos (Bokryun), Mountan Cortex Radicis (Mokdanpi), Paeoniae Radix (Jakyak), and Persicae Semen (Doin) is a traditional Korean herbal medicine that is widely used in the treatment of atherosclerosis-related disorders. In this study, 3-month-old Sprague-Dawley rats were used. The 6 rats control animals were fed a normal diet and the other 18 rats were fed 1% cholesterol diet for 3 months. After 1 months, GBH was added to the drinking water of the treatment group of 12 rats but not the cholesterol only group of 6 rats. Of the 12 rats 6 received 30 mg/kg per day (group 1) and 6 received 60 mg/kg per day (group 2) of GBH. At 3 months erectile function was evaluated with cavernous nerve electrostimulation in all animals. Penile tissues were collected for electron microscopy, and to perform Western blot for endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and caveolin-1. Systemic arterial pressure was not significantly different between the animals that were fed the 1% cholesterol diet and the controls. Conversely erectile function was not impaired in the herbal medicine treated rats. Electron microscopy showed many caveolae with fingerlike processes in the cavernous smooth muscle and endothelial cell membranes in control and treated rats but not in the cholesterol only group of rats. Western blot showed differences among groups in protein expression for eNOS, nNOS, caveolin-1 and bFGF protein expression in penile tissue. Increased eNOS and nNOS protein expressions dy high cholesterol diet were significantly decreased in group 1 and group 2. Interestingly, caveolin-1 and bFGF protein expression was significantly higher in groups 1 and 2 than in the cholesterol only and control groups.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.605-610
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• 2007

This experimental study was performed to evaluate the effects of ehtanol extract of Purple Solanum tuberosum L(EPSTL) on obesity and hyperlipidemia in rats induced by high fat diet. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into normal group, control group, EPSTL (100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg) treated group. EPSTL was orally administered to the obese rats by high fat diet for 6 weeks. The effect of EPSTL on obesity and hyperlipidemia were examined in vitro and in vivo as follows : EPSTL effectively inhibited the differentiation of 3T3-L1 adipocytes in a concentration dependent manner. EPSTL significantly lowered body weight of rats fe high fat diet for 6 weeks from 4 weeks treatment compared with untreated control. EPSTL significantly reduced the weight of retroperitoneal fat only at 100 mg/kg and epididymal fat pad in rats fed high fat diet for 4 weeks at 100 and 200 mg/kg. EPSTL significantly reduced the level of triglyceride at 200 mg/kg, while EPSTL tended to lower the levels of total lipid and phospholipid in rats fed high fat diet for 4 weeks with no significance. EPSTL significantly attenuated the level of total cholesterol, LDL and atherosclerosis index (Al) as well as increased the level of HDL at 200 mg/kg. EPSTL significantly reduced the levels of total lipid and triglyceride of hepatic tissues in rats fed high fat diet for 4 weeks at 200 mg/kg. EPSTL significantly lowered the level of insulin, while it did not affect leptin compared with untreated control. Taken together, these results suggest that EPSTL can be used for the treatment or prevention of hyperlipidemia and obesity.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2001.04a
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• pp.115-126
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• 2001

1988년 Reaven이 인슐린저항성증후군(insulin resistance syndrome)의 개념을 처음 소개한 후 전세계적으로 관심이 증가하고 있다. 인슐린저항성증후군은 대사성증후군 (metabolic syndrome), X 증후군(syndrome X)이라고도 하며, 인슐린 저항성에 따른 고인슐린혈증, 내당능장애(impaired glucose tolerance)와 2형 당뇨병(인슐린 비의존형 당뇨병), 이상지질혈증(dyslipidemia), 고혈압 등 일련의 질환은 동일인에서 흔히 병발하고, 이들은 모두 죽상경화증(atherosclerosis)의 위험인자라는 관점에서 상호연관성을 갖는 질환군이라는 개념이다. 2형 당뇨병은 인슐린에 대한 말초조직의 저항성과 상대적으로 감소된 인슐린 분비능의 결과라고 할 수 있다. 또한 상당수의 2형 당뇨병은 비만, 특히 복부비만을 동반하고 있으며, 비만은 그 자체로 인슐린 저항성을 유발한다. 결국 인슐린 저항성이 장기간 개선되지 못하게 되면 2형 당뇨병이 유발되게 된다. 따라서 2형 당뇨병에 대한 최선의 치료는 혈당조절 뿐만 아니라 인슐린 저항성과 관련된 심혈관계 위험인자를 개선시키는 것을 목표로 해야 한다. 그 증거로 당뇨병 조절과 관련한 대규모 전향적 연구인 UKPDS(United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study)의 결과를 보면, 2형 당뇨병에서 설폰요소제(sulfonylurea)나 인슐린으로 10년동안 혈당조절을 했을 때 미세혈관 합병증은 의미있게 감소시켰으나 대혈관 합병증의 발생률은 의미있는 감소를 보이지 못하였다. 반면 대혈관 합병증이 미세혈관 합병증보다 사망에 기여하는 비율이 70배 이상이라는 사실은 당뇨병의 치료가 혈당조절에만 초점이 맞추어져서는 안 되며 심혈관계 위험인자를 개선시키는 치료가 동시에 진행되어야 한다는 점을 시사한다.시료에서 매우 드물게 관찰된다. 음극선발광(cathodoluminescence) 영상의 해석을 통해 저어콘 결정의 성장사를 유추하였으며, 이를 바탕으로 이온현미분석 점(spot)을 정하였다. U-Pb-Th 자료는 퍼스(Perth) 저어콘 스탠다드 (CZ3, 564 Ma, $^{206}$Pb/$^{238}$U=0.0914)를 사용하였다. 아래에 기술하는 연대는 모두 $^{206}$Pb/$^{238}$U 연대에 해당된다. 두 개의 화강암질 편마암 시료로부터 구한 U-Pb 저어콘 연대는 각각 812 $\pm$ 14 Ma(1006-8)와 822 $\pm$ 17 Ma(1006-9)로 분석오차 내에서 서로 일치한다. 이 결과는 춘천 및 전곡 지역의 석류석 각섬암에서 보고된 Sm-Nd 전암연대(852 $\pm$ 24 Ma 및 824 $\pm$ 143 Ma; Lee and Cho, 1995; Ree et al., 1996)와 잘 부합한다. 따라서 후기 원생대 기간 중 화성활동이 한반도에서 광범위하게 일어났음을 시사한다. 한편, 1006-9 시료에서는 예외적으로 한 개의 저어콘 입자 주변부(rim)에서 매우 얇은 과성장띠가 관찰되었으며, 두 개의 점 분석으로부터 구한 U-Pb 저어콘 연대는 약 235 Ma이다. 이 띠는 또한 변성기원의 저어콘에서 흔히 관찰되는 작은 W (<0.05) 비를 보인다. 1006-5 시료는 위 두 시료로부터 수 km 떨어진 지점에서 채집하였으나, 저어콘 연대는 상이한 기록을 보여준다. 즉 매우 작은 Th/U (<0.01) 값을 갖는 저어콘의 주변부에서 223 $\pm$ 5 Ma의 연대가 잘 정의되며, 이는 1006-9 시료에서 관찰된 결과와

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.411-419
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• 2012

The present study was to investigate the effects of Lycii Cortex Radicis (LCR), the root bark of lycium (Lycium chenese Miller) and ginger (Gin) on body lipid status and serum levels of cytokines. Sprague-Dawley (SD) male rats weighing $193.6{\pm}16.8g$ were divided into five groups, including one low fat (LF) and four high fat groups, i.e. HF-Control, HF-LCR, HF-Gin and HF-LCR + Gin groups. Diets for HF-LCR, HF-Gin and HF-LCR + Gin groups contained purified extracts having 0.2 g LCR tyramine, ginerol and 0.1 g tyramine plus 0.02 g gingerol per kg, respectively. Compared with those of the HF-Control total serum cholesterol level decreased, and HDL-cholesterol level increased in the HF-LCR group and serum triglyceride levels decreased in the three experimental groups fed the purified extracts. Liver cholesterol level was lower in the HF-LCR group than the HF-Control group, but triglyceride levels, which were increased by high fat diets were not changed by significantly by LCR or ginger extracts. Fecal lipid excretion was higher in the HF-LCR and HF-Gin groups, but cholesterol excretion was lower in the HF-Gin group than in the HF-Control group. The activities of liver cytosolic glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and malic enzyme were lower in the HF-LCR + Gin group than in the HF-Control group. Serum adiponectin levels did not differ among the five groups, while leptin level was lower in the HF-Gin group and C-reactive protein levels were lower in the HF-Gin and the HF-LCR + Gin groups than in the HF-Control group. It is concluded that LCR can be utilized as an ingredient for lipid-lowering functional foods in the form of purified extract and addition of small amount of ginger extract would be useful for reducing one of the inflammatory cytokines to help prevent atherosclerosis.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.61-68
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• 2015

Background: Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) is a representative traditional herbal medicine with many different pharmacological properties including anticancer, anti-atherosclerosis, anti-diabetes, and anti-inflammatory activities. Only a few studies have explored the molecular mechanism of KRG-mediated anti-inflammatory activity. Methods: We investigated the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of the protopanaxadiol saponin fraction (PPD-SF) of KRG using in vitro and in vivo inflammatory models. Results: PPD-SF dose-dependently diminished the release of inflammatory mediators [nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, and prostaglandin $E_2$], and downregulated the mRNA expression of their corresponding genes (inducible NO synthase, tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, and cyclooxygenase-2), without altering cell viability. The PPD-SF-mediated suppression of these events appeared to be regulated by a blockade of p38, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and TANK (TRAF family member-associated NF-kappa-B activator)-binding kinase 1 (TBK1), which are linked to the activation of activating transcription factor 2 (ATF2) and interferon regulatory transcription factor 3 (IRF3). Moreover, this fraction also ameliorated HCl/ethanol/-induced gastritis via suppression of phospho-JNK2 levels. Conclusion: These results strongly suggest that the anti-inflammatory action of PPD-SF could be mediated by a reduction in the activation of p38-, JNK2-, and TANK-binding-kinase-1-linked pathways and their corresponding transcription factors (ATF2 and IRF3).

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.34-41
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• 2019

Platelet aggregation is essential for the formation of a hemostatic plug in the case of blood vessel damage. On the other hand, excessive platelet aggregation may cause cardiovascular disorders, such as thrombosis, atherosclerosis, and myocardial infarction. Scopoletin, which found in the root of plants in the genus Scopolia or Artemisia, has anti-coagulation and anti-malaria effects. This study examined the effects of scopoletin on human platelet aggregation induced by collagen. Scopoletin had anti-platelet effects via the down-regulation of thromboxane $A_2$ ($TXA_2$) production and intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ mobilization ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$), which are aggregation-inducing molecules produced in activated platelets. On the other hand, scopoletin increased both the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) levels, which are known as intracellular $Ca^{2+}$-antagonists and aggregation-inhibiting molecules. In particular, scopoletin increased the potently cAMP level more than cGMP, which led to suppressed fibrinogen binding to ${\alpha}IIb/{\beta}_3$ in collagen-induced human platelet aggregation. In addition, scopoletin inhibited collagen-elevated adenosine triphosphate (ATP) release in a dose-dependent manner. The results suggest that aggregation amplification through granule secretion is inhibited by scopoletin. Therefore, scopoletin has potent anti-platelet effects and may have potential for the prevention of platelet-derived vascular diseases.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.922-940
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• 2019

Obesity, represented by abnormal fat accumulation due to an imbalance between energy intake and expenditure, is a major public health issue worldwide, leading to multiple noncommunicable diseases, including atherosclerosis, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and cancer. Diverse solutions have been proposed to combat obesity. Attention has focused on two types of adipose tissues as a promising therapeutic target in obesity: traditional brown and beige or brite. Unlike energy-storing white adipose (endocrine) tissue, traditional brown adipose tissue and beige adipose tissue have energy-dissipating thermogenic properties. Both types of tissue are present in adult humans and inducible through external stimuli, such as cold exposure, ${\beta}3$-adrenergic receptor agonists, and phytochemicals. Among these stimuli, microbiota present in the human intestinal tract participate in multiple metabolic activities. Modulation of gut microbiota may offer a potent and possibly curative strategy against various metabolic diseases. Numerous studies have focused on the effects of established antiobesity treatments on the gut microenvironment or brown-adipose-tissue activation. In this review, we focus mainly on stimuli known to alleviate obesity, weight gain, and metabolic diseases, in addition to known and possible inter-relations between gut microbiota modulation and similar interventions and adipose tissue browning. The findings may pave the way toward new strategies against obesity.